A/N: Okay, so we suck. Just read and enjoy.

Chapter 14:

The Worst Day Since Yesterday

Sirius Black awoke with a start in the darkness, his dark eyes peering into the dim light for the cause of the disturbance. He felt fine, if not a little parched. There was nothing out of the ordinary in his bedroom which would have caused him to awaken.

He figured that he might as well go and get a drink since he was up. Sliding out of his bed, he made his way toward the door as silently as possible so as not to wake James, who was temporarily rooming with him on a camp bed while Lily was occupying his room.

Sirius' head whipped around to stare at the camp bed by the door. It was empty. Sirius strained his ears in the stillness, trying to discern if there was something going on that would have led James to vacate his bed.

Unless he had never been in it. This meant that he was probably in the last place Sirius had left him…with Lily.

Grinning madly, Sirius turned the door handle carefully to prevent it from squeaking and made his way into the hallway.

This was going to be good.

- - -

This is the best Christmas ever, James Potter had decided enthusiastically over a half an hour ago when he had finally kissed Lily Evans for the first time in his relatively short lifespan.

"James," Lily said quickly in between kisses.

"Hm?" he replied before swiftly covering her mouth with his once more.

"You're shoulder is pinning down my hair," she pointed out as her hand curled even tighter around his bicep, bringing him even closer.

"So?" he asked, much more preoccupied with exploring the suddenly exposed skin of her throat as she leaned away from him, trying to free her hair.

"So, it hurts you idiot," she said, slapping the back of his head as best she could.

The slap seemed to knock James back into some semblance of reality, for his eyes traveled swiftly to where his right shoulder was indeed pinning Lily's hair to the bed.

"Shit, Lily, I'm sorry," James apologized, rolling swiftly onto his back and bringing Lily with him.

"James!" she practically squealed, her newly freed hair falling in front of her face.

"What?" he demanded, tucking the offensive strands behind her ear. He stared bemusedly as she began to struggle against his hold. "What's wrong?"

"You can't just pull me on top of you…in your bed!" Lily stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Why not?" James asked, curling his hand behind her neck and guiding her face towards his once more. "You didn't seem to mind too much a second ago when it was the other way around."

"You're insufferable, James Potter," Lily sighed, flopping forward in defeat to lay her head on his chest.

"Like I haven't heard that one before," he chuckled, pulling the covers over them both. He wound their hands together, relishing the contact.

"Not like it ever stopped you," Lily mumbled against his chest.

"Did you want it to?" James questioned uncertainly, panic flaring suddenly.

"No," Lily answered warmly, "otherwise I would have missed out on this." She snuggled closer even as she added, "we shouldn't be doing this."

The panic which had settled slightly rose again. "Doing what?" he asked, his voice an octave higher. He didn't know what he would do if Lily said that they shouldn't be in a relationship.

"Staying in the same bed after we just kissed for the first time. It makes me seem incredibly easy," Lily added with a frown. What if James only appreciated the chase and now that she had veritably given up, there was no more appeal?

James could not hold back the spurt of joyous laughter which erupted out of him. He turned them so that they were curled up, facing each other. "Trust me, Lily," he said, the humor shining in his eyes, "the last thing I would call you is easy."

"Just what are you implying," she demanded, her emerald eyes glittering suspiciously in the light of the dying fire.

"Seven years, that's all I'm saying," James said, pressing his lips to hers once more. "We should sleep," he added, his lips brushing against hers with every word. "Mum would kill me if she knew I wasn't letting her patient rest."

"Alright," she added adjusting her head on the pillow. "But you have to give me my goodnight kiss first." She lifted her chin, puckering her swollen lips in an over exaggerated way.

"Yes, ma'am," James responded, fulfilling her request enthusiastically.

It was at this exact moment that Sirius chose to crack open the door. He glanced around the room, half-expecting to see his best friend soundly asleep in the armchair he had left him in. What he did see was so, so much better.

"MY EYES!" he shouted, throwing the door open with one hand while clapping the other one over his face. "MY INNOCENT EYES!" he exclaimed.

Lily broke away from James with a surprised squeak. James swore, his voice loud enough to carry over Sirius'. Sirius paused when he took in the rather rumpled sight of his best friend and the girl of his dreams, both flushed with swollen lips.

"Were you snogging?" Sirius asked dumbfounded as he watched James struggle for freedom with the sheets.

"Yes," Lily replied, the surprise wearing off and irritation quickly replacing it.

"And we were rather enjoying it!" James finished, hopping out onto the floor, still conducting a rather vigorous battle with the bed sheet that had ensnared his left foot.

"Wonderful," Sirius exclaimed before dashing out into the hallway. "MUM! MRS. POTTER, WAKE UP!" he bellowed, racing down the hallway. "FORNICATION IN THE HOUSEHOLD!"

James managed to wrench his foot free just as he heard Remus' bleary voice from the landing below above to know if everything was alright.

"It's just fine, dearest, Moony, it's just fine," Sirius said brightly as he raced past Remus, continuing to make the biggest racket possible.

"It won't be in a second," James interjected as he sprinted down the stairs after Sirius, wand drawn.

"James!" Lily panted exasperatedly as she tried in vain to catch up, her newly recovered body not yet ready to take the strain of running. She clutched the banister for support, rolling her eyes at Remus as he made his way down to the second floor. "Trust Sirius to ruin a perfectly fine evening," she commented.

"And what were you doing which put Sirius into such an excited state?" Remus asked as Sirius' shouts of "FORNICATION IN THE MANOR!" continued to echo on the second floor landing.

"Well we were…er," Lily began blushing.

"Fornicating?" Remus supplied dryly.

"Of course not!" Lily replied hotly as she followed Remus in the direction of the raised voices which were now coming from the main living room.

"Is everyone alright?" Mr. Potter demanded as he hurried out from the master suite on the second floor as fast as his injured leg would allow. His wand was drawn, his trained eyes scanning the second floor landing for any sign of attack. Most men would have looked utterly ridiculous poised in an attack stance in red plaid flannel pajamas but Phillip Potter was one intimidating man.

"What's the situation?" Mrs. Potter barked, hot on her husbands heels, her own lit wand held out in front of her.

"Where are James and Sirius?" Mr. Potter demanded, clearly still under the impression that his house was under attack.

"They're down there, Mr. Potter," Remus replied pointing down the large staircase, his utterly unpaniced voice having an immediate soothing effect on the assembled group.

"What is going on?" Mrs. Potter demanded, tucking a strand of her loose dark hair out of her eyes as she made her way over to the irritated Lily and Remus and led the quartet down the stairs to Sirius and James who were standing in the middle of giant front foyer.

"I'll tell you what's going on," Sirius said, bouncing up and down excitedly on his heels, "we just won a whole lot of galleons!"

Phillip Potter blinked, clearly confused, his eyes taking in the sight of his only son glowering dangerously at his best friend. He locked eyes with Sirius who was staring at his surrogate parents meaningfully. "You mean…"

"You kissed?" Mrs. Potter cut in, staring at her son with surprise and obvious delight.

"I don't see why that warrants this idiot waking up the entire house," James snarled.

"They were snogging on James' bed!" Sirius stated gleefully, galleon signs practically glowing in his eyes as he twirled Mrs. Potter around. "Electra's going to be so pissed off!"

"I don't see why that is making you so happy, Sirius," Remus said, as he sat down in a plush armchair.

"Because Moony," Sirius said, bounding over and grabbing the lapels of his friends pajamas, "not only was I right knowing that they were bound to get together before Christmas, but we also cleaned out everyone who bet against us! That's half the school!"

"Well, I don't know about you James, but I'm so glad that our personal lives are used to feed the school's betting pool," Lily snapped mordantly, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Even your parents," she groaned. "This is so humiliating," she said, burying her face in James' shoulder.

"Don't worry, love," James said, wrapping his arm around her waist protectively, "I'll kill them in the morning."

"Don't maim your parents to badly," Lily teased, "Or Remus, he didn't bet on anything. You didn't, did you?" she added fiercely glaring at the meekest of the Marauders.

"No, of course, I wouldn't sink so low," Remus said dodgily, his eyes searching for Sirius' face.

"You bet against us didn't you?" James asked in a monotone.

"Sirius wouldn't leave me alone!" Remus defended himself, "I just wanted to study for Charms!"

"Which reminds me," Sirius said greedily, cutting across the room and curtly sticking his hand out, palm up to Remus, "Pay up, dearest Moony."

"I only bet a knut," Remus exclaimed, "Are you seriously going to make me go get a knut in the middle of the night!"

"Come on, Remus, I need it so I can cross your name off my list. It is quite extensive and one less person on it would be a help to me," Sirius smiled devilishly, flexing the fingers of his outstretched palm slightly.

"I can't believe you bet against us," James muttered darkly.

"I JUST WANTED TO STUDY FOR CHARMS!" Remus exclaimed loudly defending himself.

"I need a nightcap," Mr. Potter said, shaking his head slightly pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Good idea," Sirius cheered throwing his arms in the air delightedly, "Drinks all around!"

Mr. Potter shook his head dejectedly, and then looking at Sirius and the other three teenagers motioned for them to follow him into the main living room as he led the way, Sirius at his heels like an excited puppy.

"You can not be serious, Philip," Mrs. Potter scolded her husband as her son and his friends made their way past her stern figure.

"No, that's me, Mum," Sirius called back cheekily, whipping his head back to smile at her winningly.

"Oh, Merlin," Mrs. Potter mumbled, "Now I need a drink."

"Oh, come on, Mum," James said lightly, as though he forgot that he had been furious only moments ago, "It's not like we aren't legal and it is Christmas Eve."

"Plus, he just got torn of bed with one of the most amazing women ever," Sirius added, plopping down on one of the plush couches.

"Aw, thanks, Sirius, I really should have gotten you a better Christmas gift," Lily said, sitting down next to James on the couch across from Sirius. She glanced over at James who was glaring darkly at the small area of sofa that separated them and looked up at her and asked, "Who are you trying to kid here?" before wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into his lap.

"James!" she squealed, "I am trying to maintain a semblance of dignity, here."

"And I am trying to maintain a semblance of manhood," James replied.

"Alright, James, now who are you trying to kid," Sirius called across the room as Mr. Potter handed him a drink.

"You really do want to be neutered, don't you?" James responded as Lily tried to squirm out of his grasp and get her own seat on the couch. Sirius began to choke on his drink at this comment, and Remus, in an attempt to appear as though he was not laughing, covered his mouth as though he were yawning.

"Why would Sirius need to be neutered?" Mrs. Potter asked suspiciously, raising an eyebrow at her son.

"Because he's a…"

"FILTHY, INBRED BLOOD TRAITORS! WHERE IS MY SON?" screeched a voice from the fireplace.

"Like you can talk!" James bellowed from his seat as the perturbed face of Mrs. Black appeared in the dancing green flames of the fireplace.

"WHERE IS MY SON?" Mrs. Black continued to howl.

"Merry Christmas to you, too, Mum," Sirius replied darkly, hoisting himself off the couch to converse with his mother.

"Not you," Mrs. Black spat, "Where is Regalus?"

"How would I know?" Sirius asked incredulously.

"You are his brother," Mrs. Black said scandalized, "Do you not know where your brother is at all times?"

"I don't know where he is at all times," Sirius replied as he knelt down in front of the fire, "I actually dissociate myself from him as much as possible."

"I am ashamed of you!" Mrs. Black hollered, "You should try and follow your brother's example…"

"Mr. Potter," Sirius turned his head around to face Philip Potter, ignoring his mother, "We really need to get off the main floo network."

"I'll tell the main office," Mr. Potter responded glaring at the head of the woman in his fireplace.

"So you don't know where your brother is?" Mrs. Black asked fervently.

"No, I don't, thank Merlin," Sirius huffed, "Wait, didn't he tell you where he went?"

"If he had I would know where he was now wouldn't I?" Mrs. Black said spitefully.

"Well, he's probably just at a friends house," Sirius supplied, running a hand through his shaggy hair.

"Mrs. Black, only one Black has set foot in this house," Mrs. Potter called from the back of the room, "And you are looking at him, so if you could please leave that would be much appreciated," Catherine Potter's obvious dislike for the woman not masked by the politeness in her tone.

"Fine," Mrs. Black glowered towards the back of the room, "Sirius, if you find out where he is I expect to hear from you."

"Yes," James muttered under his breath, "Because we wouldn't want to keep another son from your loving embrace."

"Watch your mouth, boy," Mrs. Black reprimanded James harshly, "You wish your mother would've taught you the way I have raised my Regalus."

"Excuse me," Lily flared up, "She taught him just fine, thank you very much."

"Hold your tongue, mudblood," Mrs. Black sneered, contorting her face in disgust, as though just looking at Lily was an act of extreme shame.

"I think you've overstayed your welcome in our fireplace, Mrs. Black, and I suggest you find your son quickly, because if I hear any more rumors around my office about him being involved in illegal activities he may not make it home for a very long time, "Mr. Potter said pointedly, as he strode across the room to Sirius' side, setting a fatherly hand on his shoulder.

"I have never…" Mrs. Black began, but was cut off as Sirius threw his drink forcefully into the fire breaking the connection; the eggnog from his glass smattering across the mantle and inside of the fireplace, while the glass shattered across the back of the fireplace, the shards scattering throughout the fireplace.

"Retarded bitch," Sirius muttered standing up, and turning around to face the room as a whole, while Mr. Potter pulled his wand out from inside his pajamas and cleaned up the mess.

"Now, Sirius, how many times have I told you not to use that word?" Mrs. Potter walked forward, wrapping an arm around Sirius' shoulder, "You're mother is clearly insane, not retarded."

"Well put, dear," Mr. Potter before muttering "reparo" and summoning Sirius' now fixed glass to his hand.

"I'm going to bed," Remus said, speaking for the first time in a while, as he pulled himself off the couch and made his way out into the foyer.

"Me too," James said, getting up, "Come on, Lily."

"James," Mrs. Potter called to her son, "Separate beds."

Lily blushed deeply, while James stared at his mother wide-eyed his mouth working furiously to form a coherent thought.

"Goodnight, son," Mr. Potter said, winking discretely.

"Alright, night, Dad," James replied quickly before grabbing Lily's hand and practically dragging her towards the staircase.

--

"Where the hell is Spencer?" Sirius demanded as he paced around the brightly lit living room, "And for that matter where is Pete?"

"He's not coming and she'll be here soon," Electra replied, her frustration with Sirius obvious. She sat with her arms firmly folded across her chest as Sirius walked to and fro in front of her.

"Don't be like that, Electra," Sirius said, smiling cockily, "You're just pissed you lost a lot of money. Shouldn't you be happy to see your friends?"

"I am happy to see them. But, since I can't collect their money, it makes me less happy," Electra scoffed.

"You can collect me later," Sirius said cheekily, winking at her seductively.

"Oh, Merlin, Black, can't I be around you for more then ten minutes without a sexual innuendo being made?" Electra asked, shifting in her seat slightly.

"Of course not, what else would we talk about?" Sirius asked.

"Maybe about how much you want to date each other?" James suggested as he made his way into the room, his arms weighed down with sweets, with Lily trailing behind him carrying innumerable bottles of Butterbeer.

"Just because you two finally got your acts together doesn't mean you can go around playing match maker," Electra exclaimed as she got up to take some food from James.

"She is right, Jamesie," Sirius scolded James lightly as he took a Butterbeer from Lily and uncapped it.

"Oh, yes, because you did such a smashing job of doing that with me and Lily," James retorted smartly, "How much money have you made off of us getting together?"

"Let's just say, a second Gringotts vault was necessary," Sirius rubbed his hands together enthusiastically. "So, how about it Electra? Why don't you let me take you somewhere nice? I do have galleons to burn," he added, tapping his bottle of Butterbeer lightly against Electra's cup.

"It better be really expensive," she murmured, turning her head away, all too aware of the stares of her friends.

"Is there a reason we're staring at Electra like she suddenly turned into a Grindylow?" Remus asked as he entered the room from setting up the last of the fireworks, carrying an empty box with the Filibuster's logo emblazoned on the side. The Marauders' annual fireworks display was an anticipated event, both by the boys who loved to watch things explode, and the Potters' friends who came to celebrate the New Year at the mansion.

"I think she might have just agreed to let Sirius take her out on a date," Lily said carefully, scrutinizing her friend's blushing face and Sirius' dumbstruck expression.

"I suppose the location has to be rather pricey?" Remus inquired, selecting his own bottle of Butterbeer and setting the box on the floor.

"Only the best for my Electra," Sirius breathed, still sitting uncomfortably close to the object of his affections.

"I'm not your anything," Electra snapped, bringing her face unintentionally closer to his.

"I'll be your Sirius," he offered helpfully, leaning even closer.

The impending argument or snog, the observing friends could not decide which, was interrupted by the merry chime of the front doorbell.

"I'll answer it," Remus volunteered, getting to his feet and making his way out into the large foyer. He glanced through the large frosted panes of glass, surprised to see Spencer standing on the other side.

"Remus! I apparrated without losing the cake!" she exclaimed happily, her brown hair flecked with melting snow. "Where's Lily?" she demanded, looking around as if expecting her best friend to sprout from the tile.

"Congratulations," Remus said warmly, holding the door open further. "Lily's fine, she's in the living room with James."

"You were worried about the cake? Shouldn't you have been more worried about losing a limb?" Sirius teased as he swaggered into view.

"Siri!" Spencer cried, freezing for a moment before launching herself at him. "Happy New Year!"

Sirius laughed, wrapping his arms around her in return. "Happy New Year, Spen Ben. Come on, we've been waiting." Spencer trailed after Sirius, chatting aimlessly with Remus.

"Spencer!" Lily said, shoving her Butterbeer into James' hand as Spencer entered the room with the boys and rushed over to engulf her friend in her arms.

"Lily, you're alright!" Spencer screeched, rocking her friend back and forth in arms.

"Of course I am," Lily laughed, "the Potters took good care of me," she smiled.

"Especially the youngest one," Electra interjected, smirking. Spencer arched an eyebrow, her grin widening.

"We won?" Spencer asked, glancing at Sirius.

"Of course we did," Sirius declared. "As if James would let us down." He clapped his friend appreciatively on the back. James shot him a warning glare as Lily turned to give him a questioning look.

"I knew nothing about it," James said defensively. "Okay, so I didn't know the details," James amended, placing a repentant kiss on her cheek. She blushed, not used to such open displays of affection.

"Who wants cake?" Spencer said eagerly. "I made it myself with my good friend Ogden," she said proudly, opening the box.

"I would go gay for Ogden," Sirius said, picking up a fork and stabbing enthusiastically into the moist cake without bothering to cut himself a piece.

"Like you aren't already?" Electra said snidely, coming over to retrieve her own utensil.

"I will prove my sexuality once and for all to you at midnight, darling," Sirius grinned, wagging his eyebrows suggestively. For once, Electra couldn't come up with a comeback on time.

--

Lily stepped closer into James' warmth in order to ward off the bitter wind which accompanied the otherwise clear winter's night. James wrapped his cloak tighter around her where they sat on the large porch, facing skyward. The Potters guests had followed the teens' example and were milling around the grounds in expectation of the fireworks display.

"How long until it starts?" Spencer asked, her teeth chattering slightly in the cold.

"It should be very soon," Remus said. "Sirius and Electra went to go set them off."

James snorted. "Do you think they misunderstood what fireworks they were supposed to set off?"

The four teens laughed. "Honestly, how long can it take? It's almost midnight," Spencer declared scooting herself closer to Lily and pulling Remus tighter on her other side. "Huddling for body warmth," she explained.

"You do know that there are insulation spells, don't you?" Remus asked, moving his hand toward his pocket to draw out his wand.

"Shhh," Spencer hissed, forcing his hand out of sight again. "Let Lily and James have a moment here."

"What's that?" James asked, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose in order to see better.

"Looks like an owl," Remus replied, squinting into the darkness.

"Oh, it'd better move or the poor thing will get hit with a firework!" Spencer said, distress evident in her voice. James stifled a chuckle.

"Do you find the demise of a poor defenseless animal amusing?" Lily demanded, turning to face him, emerald eyes glinting dangerously in the dim light.

"No," James replied quickly, "just the mental image of it." James was spared as the subject of their conversation fluttered down in front of them, hooting insistently. It came to hover in midair, directly in front of Lily's face, holding its leg out expectantly.

"Looks like the poor defenseless animal has a message for you," James said, encasing the bird in his large hands, allowing Lily to remove the envelope of thick, official-looking parchment from its spiny leg.

Lily turned the letter over in her hands in order to read her name written in a thick black ink on the front. She squinted at the wax seal on the back, trying to make out the letter's origins. She broke the seal, drawing out the parchment and unfolding the contents.

"Look!" Spencer said, one finger pointing at the sky where a single firework had just been shot off, a second one following soon after.

"Ten," James began counting down excitedly. Lily's eyes did not turn skyward to stare as another golden explosion blossomed in the sky, heralding the New Year. In fact, she could not tear them away from the words written in such a neat hand.

She did not even register the mirthful shouts or the rather off key chorus of Auld Lang Syne which had begun. She did not make any move as James titled her chin up to kiss her as multicolored sparks rained down over the manor grounds.

"What's wrong?" James paused in mid-motion, his eyes widening as a tear fell onto the hand cupping Lily's cheek.

"They're dead," Lily whispered, her eyes staring unseeingly into his.

A/N: Happy Fucking New Years, Lily Evans. (Shake heads) Yes. We are horrible people. Make us feel better by reviewing.